Indianapolis Colts
2010 record: 10-6
Last playoff appearance: 2010, 10-6, AFC South Champs, L17-16 NYJ
General Manager: Bill Polian, Chris Polian
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (2009 – current, 24-8)
Offensive Coordinator: Clyde Christensen
Defensive Coordinator: Larry Coyer
Defensive alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 27.2 PTS (4th) 380.8 YDS (4th) 288.1 PASS (1st) 92.7 RUSH (29th)
DEF: 24.2 PTS (23rd) 341.6 YDS (20th) 214.6 PASS (13th) 127.0 RUSH (25th)
Offense: In 2010 the Indianapolis Colts won the AFC South for the seventh time in the last eight years. Under Peyton Manning’s direction, they wielded one of the most potent offenses in the league (the Colts ranked 1st in passing and 4th overall). That said, the Colts had one glaring weakness, their rushing attack which ranked 29th in the NFL. Whether it was Joseph Addai , Donald Brown, or even Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis’ running backs and offensive line proved to be woefully inadequate…resulting in a one dimensional offseason for much of the season.
By drafting offensive linemen Anthony Castonzo and Ben Ijalana with their first two picks in the 2011 draft, the Colts’ front office made a calculated decision that by infusing the offensive line with new talent, order could be restored and a legitimate running game could be established with. Additionally, these two picks were a clear statement that the Colts believed Peyton Manning was going to be active player on the team’s roster into the indefinite future and they were going to protect him. Consequently the team missed out on the opportunity to draft either running back Mark Ingram to replace the ineffective Addai or the cerebral quarterback Andy Dalton as insurance for the seemingly indestructible Manning. Overall, a calculatEd Risk that could be an epic fail.
Manning’s neck injury and the uncertainty of his return, has left Indianapolis woefully lacking at the quarterback, the one position this offense relies the most upon. Back-up quarterbacks Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky have looked so frightening during the preseason that the Colts have been forced to coax Kerry Collins out of retirement to provide a stable veteran presence at the position.
If Manning isn’t healthy enough to start on Opening Day, then the job is clearly Collins. But Collins starting even one game for the Colts brings up two important questions: how good is the Colts’ receiving corps without Manning and will the running game continue to be this team’s Achilles’ heel?
Aside from Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark it could be easily argued that it was Peyton Manning who elevated the play of Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, and Jacob Tamme and if Manning isn’t playing for one, two, three, or more games how much will the offense suffer? Even though Kerry Collins offers a veteran presence under center that is clearly lacking with Painter and Orlovsky, how effective can Collins really be without a legitimate rushing attack, especially since he relied so heavily on this offensive component during his tenure at Tennessee?
Even though the Colts’ offensive line is, on paper, improved, how realistic is it to assume that during a lockout shortened offseason draft picks alone can rejuvenate an offensive line’s rushing prowess? Combine this with the fact that this new offensive line will be blocking for two injury prone backs in Addai and Brown who have averaged only 3.9 yards per carry over the past two seasons and it sounds like the Colts running game is headed for mediocrity again. Perhaps the best case scenario for Indianapolis is it found a diamond in the rough with Delone Carter, running back from Syracuse, and the 4th round pick somehow becomes an explosive playmaker that has been missing at the position for some time.
Lastly, it is important to note that the Colts only defeated one team last year with a winning record, the Kansas City Chiefs, who by all accounts, including my own, were frauds. Additionally, Indianapolis’ average margin of victory after Week 5 was only 6 points, which includes two and three point victories over Washington and Tennessee. With at least 7 games against quality opponents and an uncertain rushing attack, it might not matter whether or not Peyton Manning is under center entire season for the Colts.
Defense: The Colts defense continues to function around the defensive line speed of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, middle linebacker Gary Brackett playing field general, and the reliance on the development of young players at linebacker and in the secondary. The loss of Bob Sanders shouldn’t impact the defense as the former defensive MVP was hardly on the field the past two seasons due to injury. However, the real question on defense is whether or not the Colts finally have a few DTs that can plug up the middle. Free agents acquisitions Antonio Johnson and Tommie Harris, along with 3rd round draft pick Drake Nevis from LSU will attempt to rectify a glaring hole on the Colts defensive line since Tony Siragusa left in 1997. Without any tremendous adjustments made to the defensive roster, it is difficult to image the Colts defensive improving over last year’s numbers. Unfortunately this might be the season where Indianapolis’ offense will be relying on the defense to win games, not vice versa.
Coaching: On top of the Colts offensive concerns, remains the fact that head coach Jim Caldwell has demonstrated the unsettling ability to make poor decisions and frankly be out coached (examples- his clock management skills in last year’s playoff loss to the Jets and his conservative approach during the Super Bowl loss to the Saints). Tony Dungy’s handpicked successor isn’t the worst head coach in the NFL, but simply isn’t the best either and there is a good chance that his coaching skills/style will cost the Colts at least one game this season.
Prediction: If Manning starts in Week 1 most prognosticators would probably argue that this remains the Colts division to lose. However, with Indianapolis’ inadequacies on offense, a middle of the road defense, and the likelihood that Kerry Collins will be starting a handful of games, I would argue that this is the Texans’ division to lose. Because of the Colts decade long run of success, it’s hard to envision them ever stumbling or failing. Well, the team stumbled in 2010 and it doesn’t look as if they’re heading into the season sure footed.
Record Predicition: 8-8
Projected Starters:
QB: Peyton Manning
RB: Joseph Addai/Donald Brown
WR: Reggie Wayne
WR: Pierre Garcon
WR: Austin Collie
TE: Dallas Clark
OT: Anthony Castonzo/Jeff Linkenbach
OG: Mike Pollak/Jacques McClendon
C: Jeff Saturday
OG: Ben Ijalana/Kyle DeVan
OT: Ryan Diem
DE: Dwight Freeney
DT: Fili Moala/Drake Nevis/Tommie Harris
DT: Charles Johnson
DE: Robert Mathis
OLB: Pat Angerer
MLB: Gary Brackett
OLB: Kavell Conner
CB: Jacob Lacey
FS: Melvin Bullitt
S: Antoine Bethea
CB: Jerraud Powers
K: Adam Vinatieri
P: Pat McAfee
Fantasy Performers:
1. Peyton Manning
2. Reggie Wayne
3. Dallas Clark
4. Adam Vinatieri
5. Pierre Garcon
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 at Texans 1:00 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 vs. Browns 1:00 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 vs. Steelers 8:20 PM Tickets
4 Oct 03 at Buccaneers 8:30 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 vs. Chiefs 1:00 PM Tickets
6 Oct 16 at Bengals 1:00 PM Tickets
7 Oct 23 at Saints 8:20 PM Tickets
8 Oct 30 at Titans 1:00 PM Tickets
9 Nov 06 vs. Falcons 1:00 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 vs. Jaguars 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Bye
12 Nov 27 vs. Panthers 1:00 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 at Patriots 8:20 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 at Ravens 1:00 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 vs. Titans 1:00 PM Tickets
16 Dec 22 vs. Texans 8:20 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 at Jaguars 1:00 PM Tickets
Re-signed:
Peyton Manning QB – 5 yrs, 90 million
Joseph Addai RB – 3 yrs, 14 million
Ryan Diem OT – 1 yr
Antonio Johnson DT – 1 yr, 1.684 million
Tyjuan Hagler OLB – 1 yr
Melvin Bullitt SS – 3 yrs
Aaron Francisco SS – 4 yrs, 4 million
Adam Vinatieri K – 3 yrs
Free agent acquisitions:
Kerry Collins QB (Titans) – 1 yr, 4 million
Dan Orlovsky QB (Texans) – 1 yr
Jamaal Anderson DE (Falcons) – 1 yr, 1.3 million
Tyler Brayton DE (Panthers) – 1 yr
Tommie Harris DT (Bears) – 1 yr, 1.2 million
Ernie Sims LB (Eagles)
Free agent losses:
Charlie Johnson OT – signed with Vikings
Daniel Muir DT – signed by Rams
Clint Session OLB – Signed by Jaguars
Kelvin Hayden CB
Bob Sanders S – signed by Chargers
Picks in 2011 NFL Draft: (overall draft grade: A+):
(Draft review by 85% Sports’ Jeremy Heneghan) Wow. Is it just me or did the Colts do an amazing job of finding value and players of need in their 2011 NFL draft class? What a tremendous draft they had in getting two offensive linemen, which was most definitely their biggest need. I had Anthony Castonzo as the draft’s second best offensive tackle behind TyRon Smith. I can really see this draft class making a huge impact on the Colts’ future, which is fortunate for them since their roster was starting to slide. Joseph Addai may not be back, so Delone Carter is another excellent selection. He’ll provide some power on the ground. Defensive tackle has been a need for quite a while, so it was a relief for Colts fans to see Drake Nevis taken.
(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 22 (22) Anthony Castonzo OT, Boston College – Great news for Peyton Manning. He gets a legit blindside protector. Castonzo only needed to get stronger and a little better in the run game, but the Colts didn’t take him for those reasons. He’s ready to pass protect and I expect him to be the starting left tackle on the Colts in the fall.
Grade: A+ Rated: 13
Rd 2, Pick 17 (49) Ben Ijalana OL, Villanova – Ben Ijalana OG, Villanova – More upgrades to the line for the Colts. Manning could be lethal behind this new, better line.
Grade: A Rated: 44
Rd 3, Pick 23 (87) Drake Nevis DT, LSU – this is a very good pick for the Colts. They needed improvement at defensive tackle. Nevis is coming off a strong senior season.
Grade: A Rated: 50
Rd 4, Pick 22 (119) Delone Carter RB, Syracuse – The Colts running game struggled again, not that it matters though. I like this pick. Carter should have been a top 100 pick.
Grade: A Rated: 99
Rd 6, Pick 23 (188) Chris Rucker DB, Michigan State – character concerns with guy, but this is good value because I had him down on my board due to those concerns. He’s a big corner that has speed and physicality and could be a surprise.
Grade: A Rated: 151
2010 Stat Leaders
Peyton Manning 450-679 66.3% 4700 YDS 6.9 YPA 33 TD 17 INT 91.9 RTG
Donald Brown 129 ATT 497 YDS 3.9 YPA 49 LNG 2 TD
Reggie Wayne 111 REC 1355 YDS 12.2 YPC 50 LNG 6 TD
Adam Vinatieri 26-28 92.9% 48 LNG
Antoine Bethea 106 TCK
Robert Mathis 11 SCK
Kelvin Hayden, Jerraud Powers, Aaron Francisco 2 INT
Out of Season Storylines
Peyton Manning is Re-signed
The Colts were awful on Sunday. It’s been so long since they’ve been awful, I don’t know what to think, but it is time to pass the AFC South torch to a much deserved Houston Texans team. Good point about the running back situation in Indy, the last couple attempts at RB have been flops. I’m hoping Carter does something substantial this season, they definitely could use it now.